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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.